Germantown advances plan to replace private laterals and relay sewer in Pleasant View subdivision; water extension not included

Germantown's Public Works Committee voted July 9 to move forward with planning and a funding work plan to replace private sewer laterals and relay aging sanitary mainline in the Pleasant View subdivision (the area off Pilgrim bounded by Williams, Kurt, Roberts and including Sunnyview and Daniels). The committee specifically advanced sewer work; extension of municipal water into the subdivision was discussed but not included in the motion.

Staff told the committee there is about $124,000 in Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) private-lateral replacement funding currently uncommitted, with additional allocations anticipated in future years. MMSD rules now require an approved work plan (three-year scope) to access accumulated funds. Utility advisory recommended packaging the lateral replacements (about 68 laterals estimated at roughly $15,000 per lateral, a planning-level subtotal near $1 million) with a mainline sewer relay and timing road reconstruction so work can be done together.

Staff cautioned the magnitude: MMSD funding alone would not cover the full cost. Committee members said staff expects the village to pursue competitive MMSD grants and the Wisconsin DNR Clean Water Fund low-interest loan/grant program to reduce the village share. Staff noted private-lateral replacement grants from MMSD typically cover lateral work only; however, Tim and consultant Dave Arnott advised that a Clean Water Fund application could include multiple sewer-related contracts (lift station rehabilitation, mainline relay and lateral work), which can reduce borrowing costs through subsidized loan terms.

Consensus at the Utility Advisory Committee and the Public Works Committee was to advance sewer work and prepare the MMSD work plan and other applications so the village does not lose the existing MMSD allocation; the motion made clear water extension into Pleasant View would not be pursued at this time. The committee approved the motion to advance the plan; the record shows one trustee (Rick Miller) voting in opposition to advancing the plan without water included — he argued residents around the subdivision already have water and the subdivision is a "donut hole."

Next steps include preparing the MMSD work plan and bringing budget and grant/loan applications forward in time to meet MMSD deadlines, with an intention to coordinate sanitary relay, lateral replacement, and road resurfacing to avoid repeated excavation.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Move forward with Pleasant View private lateral replacements and sewer relay; prepare MMSD work plan and pursue additional grant/loan funding; outcome: approved (majority; one recorded opposition).